A 37-year-old Alton man remains jailed on $400,000 in bonds after Mission police allege he crashed a vehicle through the front doors of a Family Dollar last week before leading police on a chase where he exceeded speeds of 100 mph.
Mauricio Perez Jr. is charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, evading arrest and criminal mischief.
Mission police say they responded to the Family Dollar at 1115 E. Business 83 last Thursday for a report of a disturbance Perez is alleged to have caused with a woman he used to date.
“While on way to location communications advised responding officers that male subject had just rammed his vehicle into the Family Dollar and left location in a hurry,” the probable cause affidavit stated.
An officer en route spotted the vehicle, a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe, at Business 83 and Bryan Road and tried to conduct a traffic stop, but police say Perez ignored the officer and continued southbound toward the expressway at a high rate of speed.
According to the affidavit, he’s accused of driving eastbound and still refused to stop even as several police units were in pursuit, exceeding 100 mph in McAllen .
Because of the dangerous driving, police say they disengaged from the pursuit.
Meanwhile, police interviewed the woman who said Perez is her ex-boyfriend and that at 3 a.m. that morning he went to her house, slashed her tires and crashed into her personal car, authorities say.
Two hours later, at 5 a.m., she said he sent her several messages saying he would be waiting for her at her work, according to the affidavit.
She told investigators she didn’t call authorities because she didn’t think Perez would show up, police say.
However, he began calling her again, making threats and harassing her, and when he arrived at the Family Dollar, she tried to ignore him, according to the affidavit, which states that Perez then began banging and pulling the store doors yelling at her to open the doors.
The woman then called authorities.
Police say that while she was on the phone with authorities, Perez walked to his vehicle as if he was leaving before getting in and driving “directly into the store crashing through glass doors and the structure.”
The woman told police she thought he was trying to run her over, according to the affidavit.
“Damage to the business is estimated to be over $10,000,” the charging document states.
Shortly after, McAllen police notified Mission authorities they had found the suspect vehicle.
“McAllen Police advise they located the suspect vehicle at a residence in their city, Mission police officer Monjaras responds to location with McAllen Police and while inspecting the vehicle they are confronted by the defendant who is arrested on scene after putting up a fight. The defendant is taken to hospital and after being medically cleared is transported to Mission City jail,” the affidavit states.
